Prefabricated building



Sept. 27, 1938. J. c. ESTES PREFABRICATED BUILDING Filed Nov. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l Joseph C [sfes fly #TTA/PNEY p 1938- Q J. c. ESTES PREFABRICATED BUILDING Filed Nov. 4, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 47- rd/P/vm Sept. 27

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J. c. ESTES PREFABRICATED BUILDING Filed NOV. 4, 1957 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 44A flrro N Y Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE,

PREFABRICATED BUILDING Joseph C. Estes, Woonsocket, R. L, assignor-to Austin T. Levy, Harrisville; It. I. 7

Application November 4, 1937, Serial No. 172,834

19 Claims. (Cl. 72-1) My invention relates to prefabricatedbuildings. Fi 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing It has among its objects to provide an improved one of the four interm e junctions of t gable end construction for prefabricated buildp a m mber d upper d lower s; ings of the type described in Patent No. 2,104,869 Fig. V7 is an enlarged perspective view of a and Patent No. 2,104,870; issued January 11, special junction atthe center of the gable, taken 5 1938 to Austin T. Levy. from the inside of the wall and showing a lower Another object of my invention is to provide Story p t n p, a Ceiling J'O d t e an improved frame for such a gable end wall method of connecting the same to the gable end; which is less expensive both to fabricate and to Fig. 8 is a. front elevation of a prefabricated 10 erect, and which has improved and simplified multi-panel section of the gable end wall; 10

roof supporting members at the upper end of the, g. 9 is aplan view of the building at the gable. Y gable end thereof, showing the arrangement of A further object of my invention is to provide the ceiling joists. relative to the gable end, the, such an improved gable end wall in which por- Connecting and reenforcing rods for these J' iS tions of the wall, including a plurality of panels and a portion of the roof; 7 1| and the enclosing frame members therefor, are @Fig. 10 is a perspective view, of the junction of Prefabricated and ready to be erected as multi- Figure 7, the prefabricated ga portion and panel units in the wall. lower wallstud being inproces of connection, and

A still further object is to provide improved .F ig 'l11 is aview similarto Figure .10 but showframe members together with improved frame g the j i of Figure 20 connecting means for connecting such multiin these drawings, as in the above mentioned panel prefabricated wall sections together andto Patents, '1 have shown, my inventionembodied the adjacent frame members comprising the wall. in..a.ydwell ing house hav ng a able e d Wall.

Still other objects are to provide improved generally indicated at A in Figure hand havingf 5 continuous reenforcing means for the cementia frame co p i a lower sill member an tious coatings applied over the inner and outer pperplatemember 3, inclined roof. supportin faces of the wall panels following erection, imbe s and horizon yv sp ed v rt al proved and simplified plate means for receiving s udsii connecting th se members and'definin a the upper and lower panel boards, improved u al ty of panel apertures adapted, to receive means for supporting the inclined roof supporting Suitably Sh p d 3 Pa el-S. 6- As also in the 30 members of the gable'wall from the lower story atents abo e. me i ed, s i ab e atin ancorner stud members, and improved connections choringmaterial 1 for a cementitious coating 8 between the gable end wall frame and partition is 'flY r h inner n outer faces ofrthe and ceiling supporting structure. These and P s d. is p ed om t e Panel a b 5 other objects of my invention will, however, heretable impr ved ree fo e n and pa rods inafter more clearly appear. 9. applied to the panel faces in an improved man- In the accompanying drawings I have shown rhe in ribed. my improved construction, for purposes of illus- The i ember 2 is also, as heretofore, ptration, in a. gable end structure suitable for a P t 1 a ab e oun t n "1 and 0 m- 40 dwelling. prises an upwardlyfacing channel within which 40 In these drawingsthe lowerends of the first story panels 6 and Figure 1 is an elevation of a house constructed stud members 5 are received. The intermediate in accordance with my invention, certain parts St ds 5 li w se p e ls II and I2 being omitted and others being broken away to se e to a a by w l within w h. facilitate illustration; r the side edges .of the panels 6 are received. Spe- 45 Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on cial studs areprovided at thecorners of the build line 22 of Figure 1; ing com'prisingchannelslS and i4 secured back Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged vertical section toback, and a third channel 15 secured thereto on line 3-3 of Figure 1; F at rightanglesand receivingthe proximateedges Fig. 4 is an enlarged verticalsection on line, o t e ane s inthe ad a nt W 50 4-4 of Figure 1; In accordance with myprese nt invention, the

Fi 5 is a detail perspective ,viewtaken at an plate member 3 comprises an upwardly facing outside corner ofthe-building adjacent the upper channel [6 adapted to receivethe lower edges of end of a corner stud, the roof supporting memthe gable panels, and adownwardly facing chan- 55. her of the gable end being shown in section; nel ll adapted to'reoeive the upper edges of the first story panels, these channels being secured back to back, as by welding. The channels I6 and I! comprising the plate member, as shown, are of the same size as the channels II and I2 comprising the studs and, at their junctions with the studs, have their flanges, or legs, cut away to the back of the channel to receive the gable and first story studs respectively. (See Figures 10 and 11.) The gable studs and the gable panels are received at their upper ends within the downwardly facing channels of the oblique roof supporting members 4; the panels in the first story and the gable thus having their entire peripheries received within the channels of the frame members. It will also be noted that the corner stud channels I3, I4 and I5 extend above the plate member and are continuous from the sill t the roof supporting frame members 4 within which the channels I3 and I4 are received, the channel I5 being shortened at its upper end and received within a downwardly depending channel member I8 comprising the plate member for the adjacent wall of the building.

I-Ierein, the gable portion of the wall is prefabricated, comprising two generally similar left and right-hand sections, one of which is shown in Figure 8. These prefabricated sections are exactly alike except that one, here the righthand section, carries both channels II and I2 of the center stud of the gable. Thus each section includes one-half of the gable wall, and a description of the right-hand section shown in Figure 8 will sufiice for both. The prefabricated section shown includes one-half of the length of the plate member 3, which comprises the base of the triangular section, the channel members II and I2 of the center stud member 5 and one of the oblique roof supporting frame members 4; two intermediate studs 5 being provided to divide the section into 3 panel apertures, each of which carries a gable panel 6 positioned at its edges, as previously described, in the channels of the frame members. The channels of studs 5 of the gable portion at their upper ends are suitably secured to the roof supporting member 4, preferably by welding, and at their lower ends are connected to the plate member 3 by means of octagonal connecting plates I9 disposed at the junction of the stud and. plate members and preferably connected thereto by welding.

As previously noted, the channels of the studs 5 and plate member 3 are of the same size and the latter are cut away to receive the ends of the studs (Figures 6 and 11) so that a flush surface is presented at the junctions of these members over which the connecting-plate I9 is disposed. Except for the connecting plate at the center stud of the gable, the top edge: of each connecting plate is secured to its stud 5 and the lateral edges are secured to the flanges of the plate member 3 as shown in Figure 11, this connection being made at the factory, preferably by welding. Here, it will be noted that the plates I9 project downwardly beyond the lower channel ll of the plate member in position to overlie the studs 5 of the first story when these prefabricated sections are placed in the building wall, and as shown in Figures 6 and 11, apertures 20 are provided in the upper ends of the studs 5 of the first story, and like apertures 2| are provided in the connecting plates I9, through which bolts may be passed to facilitate connection in the field of the prefabricated section to the studs of the lower story, although these connections are also preferably subsequently welded. In the case of the center stud of the gable, Figures '7 and 10, the plate I9 not only projects downwardly beyond the plate member, but also projects to the left to overlie the channels I6 and I1 comprising the plate member of the left-hand prefabricated section.

It will also be noted that a special plate 22 is provided at the eaves to connect the channels I6, I! of the plate member to the roof supporting member 4, these plates being received within legs of the channel comprising member 4, and being welded thereto and to the channels I6 and I1. Plate 22 is also provided with suitable apertures which are aligned with corresponding apertures in the corner stud of the building to receive bolts during the process of erection of the wall. The roof supporting member 4 carries the end rafter of the roof, herein comprising a four by four wooden timber 23 which extends slightly beyond member 4 at the eaves and is secured thereto at spaced points by suitable spikes 24 which are nailed from within the channel 4 prior to fabricating the section.

The prefabricated gable sections also have similar plates I9 and 22 on the inner faces of the stud and plate members, although, it will be noted that at the center junction, a half plate 25 is provided which is welded to the channels II and I2 and extends only over the upper channel I6 of the plate member. Likewise, the inside corner plate 22 is shortened, see Figure 5, so as to terminate above the plate member l8 of the adjacent building wall.

From the above, it will be evident that the right and left-hand sections of the gable can be placed as units on the studs and panels of the first story, thus greatly facilitating the erection of the building in the field. After the two prefabricated gable sections have been placed in 7 position in the wall, with the panelsand studs of the first story received within the channel member H, the plates I9 are welded to the upper ends of the channels II, I2 of the intermediate first story studs, and the plate 22 to the channels I3, I4 of the corner studs to secure the sections to the remainder of the frame. Likewise, adjoining ports of each gable wall section stud at the center of the gable are suitably welded to each other, thus providing a strong and rigid connection between the frame sections.

Following the erection of the frame with the panels therein, reenforcing rods 9 are applied to the inner and outer faces of the wall, their opposite ends being received and positioned within the channels of the roof supporting members 4 and lower sill member 2; these rods, save where special closure panels occur, being continuous over the face of the building wall. The rods are secured to the panel faces in a usual manner by wire ties 9a extending through the panels and connecting corresponding rods on opposite faces thereof. As shown herein, the rods 9 are sprung around and overlie the channels I6 and I! of the plate member and, if desired, they may be welded thereto, These rods 9, serve not only to reenforce the panels against lateral buckling stresses, but also space from the faces of the panel, the coating anchoring material I, thus providing a space between the material and the panel faces for clinching the cementitious coating 8. Also, it will be noted that the rods 9, particularly in the vicinity of the plate member, reenforce this cementitious coating against cracking at the junction between the gable and the first story of the wall.

Ceiling supporting joists comprising channels 26 are provided at spaced points along the plate" members H3 parallel with the gable end wall of the building, one of which (see Figures 3 and 7-) is secured to the studs of the gable justabove the plate 3 thereof suitable spacers 21 being provided between the back of the channel 26 and the studs 5, and other spacers 28* being provided between the back of channel 26 and the inside of connecting plates on these studs, to provide space between the joist and the plate member 3 to permit the reenforcing rods 9'to pass along the inside an inside partition located. at the center stud of the gable end wall, an angle clip 30 being provided having a back portion correspondin tothe half plate 25, and welded to the channels H and I2 of the center stud and to theinside leg of The angularly channel I! of the plate member. related leg 3! of this angle clip is also welded to the back of channel 29.

As a result of my improvedconstruction, the erection of the gable end wall of buildings'of this type is greatly facilitated. It will be evident that, following the erection of the first story studs and panels, these prefabricated gable sections can be quickly and easily placed in position and welded to the first story framework, thus completing the erection of the frame and the roof supporting structure. Also, it, will be evident that the provision of reenforcing and spacing rods which ex-,

tend continuouslyover the panels'from the roof to the sill, provides as'tronger end wall and one which is less liable to crack at the junction between the first floor and the gable panels. My improved construction also provides a simple and effective connection between the gable end wall and the ceiling supporting and partition structures and avoids the necessity for special structural shapes, it being noted that herein only simple channels and plates are required.

While I have in this application described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the same may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a building, a wall frame including members defining upper and lower panel apertures, wall panels in said apertures, and continuous wall frame reinforcing means extending across the junction between said upper and lower panels.

2. In a building, a wall frame including members defining upper and lower panel apertures, wall panels in said apertures, and wall frame reenforcing means disposed in laterally spaced relation having integral portions extending across the junction between said upper and lower panels and fixed to the panel faces.

3. In a building, a wall frame including members defining upper and lower panel apertures, wall panels in said apertures, and continuous wall frame reenforcing means extending outside the frame member comprising the junction between said upper and lower panels and fixed to the panel faces.

' 4. In a building, wallframe members definingupper and lower panel apertures, wall panels-in said apertures positioned by said frame members,-

and laterally spaced continuous rods on like faces of; said panels having their ends positionedby spaced wall frame members and having integral intermediate portions extending across outside the frame member between said'p'an'els.--

5. In a building, wall frame members defining upper and lower panel apertures, wall panels in said apertures positioned by said frame members,

coating anchoring material overlying the faces of 7 said panels and said frame members, and rods disposed between said panels and said material, each of said rods having continuous portions extending over like faces of said panels and across the frame member between the panels and spacing said coating anchoring material from said panels and from the frame member between said;

panels.

6. In a building, a wallframe presenting panel aperturesand having spaced intermediate studs and gable corner studs, and a gable wall plate member connecting said studs and disposed above the tops of the intermediate studsand below the" channels of different height, and a wall plate member supported on the upper end of a shorter channel. I

9. In a building, a frame including a corner stud comprising angularly related connected channels of different height, a wall plate member supported on the upper end of a shorter channel, and a cooperating wall plate member connected to. a longer channel of said stud below the upper end of said channel.

10. In 'a building, a wall frame including a corner stud comprising a plurality of angularly related connected channels of different length, cooperating wall plate members supported on different channels below the upper end of a longer channel, and a connecting plate overlying the junction of one of said plate members with its channel.

11. In a building, a gable wall frame including corner studs, cooperating plate means connecting said studs below the upperends thereof, and roof supporting structure including connected members supported on the upper ends of said corner studs, and means for positioning panels between said members and said plate means.

12. In a building, a corner stud including angularly related connected channels one of which is shorter than the other, horizontal angularly related plate members secured to said corner stud adjacent the top of the shorter channel, a roof,

upstanding stud members of story height having laterally directed channels, a plate member connecting the upper ends of said studs comprising downwardly and upwardly directed channels,

. gable corner stud members projecting above said plate member and having laterally directed channels upstanding above said plate member, wall panels between said stud members having their edges positioned by the channels thereof and received within the channels of said plate and sill members, and a roof supporting member conmeeting the upper ends of said gable stud members and comprising a downwardly directed channel receiving the upper ends of gable panels.

14. In a building, a wall frame having connected frame members presenting panel apertures, and plate means connecting a multiplicity of said frame members at the junction of the same including inside and outside plates, said inside plate having a laterally projecting ledge, and a laterally extending member fixed to said ledge perpendicularly to the inner plate.

15. In a building, upstanding stud members comprising laterally directed channel members, and a plate member connecting the upper ends of said stud members having a downwardly directed channel, the flanges of which are located in the planes occupied by the channel flanges of said studs, the channel of said plate member having its flanges cut away to receive the upper ends of said studs and said stud members and plate member being rigidly connected.

16. In a building, upstanding stud members comprising laterally directed channel members, and a plate member connecting the upper ends of said stud members having a downwardly directed channel, the flanges of which are located in the planes occupied by the channel flanges of said studs, the channel of said plate member having its flanges cut away to receive the upper ends of said studs, and connecting plate means overlying the junction of said studs and plate member and fixed to both.

17. In a building, a wall frame including a sill comprising an upwardly directed channel, a roof supporting member having a downwardly directed channel, anintermediate plate member having upwardly and downwardly directed channels,

and stud members of channel section connecting said roof supporting member and sill member with said plate, said stud members having the flanges of their channels located in the same planes as the channels of said plate, and also having their upper and lower ends received within the channels of said roof supporting member and sill, said plate member having the flanges of its channels cut away at each junction with a stud to receive the end of the latter, and connecting plate means secured to said studs and plate member on the opposite sides thereof at said junctions. 1

18. A prefabricated gable end wall section comprising a triangular frame presenting a plurality of panel apertures and having an oblique marginal frame portion at its top and a marginal frame portion at its bottom, and means carried on said bottom marginal portion and disposed at the ends of said portion and between said panel apertures for centering and connecting said section to a support.

19. A prefabricated gable wall section including a triangular frame comprising plate, stud and roof members of the wall, panel means positioned thereby, and connecting means for said frame members also constituting means for centering and connecting said section to the remainder of the wall.

JOSEPH C. ESTES. 

